How to Pick a YouTube Channel Name (That Doesn't Suck)

You want to start a YouTube channel. Great. You have video ideas, maybe even filmed something. But now you're stuck on what feels like the most important decision of your life: the name.

I get it. Your channel name is the first thing people see. It's what they'll type when recommending you to friends. It's your brand. No pressure, right?

Well, I'm here to tell you something that took me way too long to learn: the name matters way less than you think.

The Uncomfortable Truth About YouTube Names

Let's look at some of the biggest channels on the platform:

Notice anything? None of these names are particularly clever. They didn't go viral because of the name. The content made them famous, and THEN the name became iconic.

What Actually Matters in a Channel Name

Okay, so the name isn't everything. But it still matters somewhat. Here's what you actually need:

1. It Needs to Be Easy to Say

When someone recommends your channel, can they say it out loud without spelling it? "Check out K-S-I" works. "Check out X-X-CrypticSoul2004-X-X" doesn't.

2. It Needs to Be Easy to Spell

"Linus Tech Tips" → easy. "Kryytik Gaming" → wait, is that one Y or two? And is it a C or a K?

3. It Needs to Be Easy to Remember

If someone watches your video and wants to find you again tomorrow, will they remember your name?

4. It Can't Be Embarrassing

You might think "EpicGamerLord420" is funny now. In three years when you're trying to get brand deals? Not so much.

The 5 Types of YouTube Channel Names

After analyzing hundreds of channels, I've noticed almost every name falls into one of these categories:

Type 1: Your Actual Name

Examples: Casey Neistat, Emma Chamberlain, Marques Brownlee

Best for: Personal brands, vloggers, anyone who might appear on camera a lot

Why it works: Authentic, professional, and you never have to worry about "outgrowing" it

The catch: Common names might be taken. Consider "First Last" or "First M Last" formats.

Type 2: Descriptive Name

Examples: Linus Tech Tips, Binging with Babish, Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell

Best for: Educational, tutorial, or niche content channels

Why it works: People immediately know what they'll get

The catch: Limits you if you ever want to expand beyond that topic

Type 3: Made-Up Word

Examples: PewDiePie, Veritasium, Vsauce

Best for: Anyone who wants a unique, brandable identity

Why it works: 100% unique, very memorable, easy to trademark

The catch: No inherent meaning, takes longer to build brand recognition

Type 4: Single Powerful Word

Examples: Dream, Vox, Wired, Vice

Best for: Anyone who can grab a clean, unclaimed word

Why it works: Extremely memorable, clean branding

The catch: Most good words are taken. Need to get creative.

Type 5: Phrase or Statement

Examples: Good Mythical Morning, First We Feast, Worth It

Best for: Shows with a specific format or vibe

Why it works: Establishes tone immediately

The catch: Can feel too niche or hard to shorten

My Actual Process (Step by Step)

Here's exactly what I do now when naming a new channel or project:

Step 1: Brain Dump (10 minutes)

Write down every word related to your content. Don't filter. If you're making a cooking channel, write: food, kitchen, chef, taste, flavor, recipe, plate, yum, delicious, gourmet, home, comfort, etc.

Step 2: Combine and Play (20 minutes)

Start smashing words together. Add prefixes and suffixes. Make up words. "Taste" + "Lab" = TasteLab. "Home" + "Chef" = HomeChef. "Yum" + "ology" = Yumology.

Step 3: Reality Check (10 minutes)

For your top 5 favorites, check:

• Is the YouTube channel name available?
• Is the Twitter/Instagram handle available?
• Is the .com domain available (or at least something close)?
• Does Googling it bring up something weird?

Step 4: The Sleep Test

Pick your favorite available option and sleep on it. If you still like it tomorrow, you're done. Don't second-guess yourself.

Names for Different Types of Channels

Gaming Channels

Go for short, punchy, and memorable. Gamers discover channels through clips and highlights—your name needs to fit in thumbnails and be easy to shout out.

Good patterns: Single word (Dream, Toast), Your name + Gaming (if unavoidable), Made-up word (Pokimane)

Educational/Tutorial Channels

Clarity beats cleverness. Someone searching "how to code in Python" wants to know your channel will help them.

Good patterns: Topic + Academy/School/Tips, Your name (authority building), Something scientific-sounding

Vlog/Lifestyle Channels

Your personality IS the brand. Using your name is almost always the right call.

Good patterns: Your name, Your name + topic, A phrase that captures your vibe

Business/Finance Channels

Professional and trustworthy. Avoid anything too casual.

Good patterns: Your name (builds authority), Topic + serious word (Finance Academy)

What If You Need to Change It Later?

Here's a secret that might calm your anxiety: you can change your channel name.

Yes, there's a slight risk of confusing existing subscribers. But plenty of big creators have done it:

• Jenna Mourey → JennaMarbles
• CharliBooBoo → penguinz0
• Plenty of gaming channels that dropped "Gaming" from their names

The key is to do it earlier rather than later. If you're at 100 subs and realize you hate your name, change it. At 100k, it gets more complicated.

The Most Overthought Decision on YouTube

I want to end with this: I've seen SO many people (myself included) spend weeks or months picking a name, and then never actually start their channel.

The name is not what's going to make or break you. Your content is. Your consistency is. Your personality is.

Pick something good enough. Start creating. If the name turns out to be a problem down the line, you'll have a much better understanding of your brand by then and changing it won't be that hard.

The worst channel name is the one on a channel that never gets started because you couldn't decide.

Now go make some videos. 🎬